Disposable baby diaper



Aug. 25, 1953 J.'M. LE BOLT DISPOSABLE BABY DIAPER Filed Jan. 9, 1951 JO/Zz BY @frown- I la Patented Aug. 25, 1953 DISPOS-ABLE BABY DIAPER John M. Le Bolt, Deerfield, Ill., assignor to The Cromwell Paper Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 9, 1951, Serial No. 205,130

(Cl. 12S-284) Claims.

' The present invention relates toV a baby diaper composed of paper or other equivalent material which is so inexpensive that it is practicable to throw the diaper away immediately after use. Also, the composition of the diaper is preferably such that it is practicable to dispose of it by flushing it down a toilet, without the likelihood of clogging the toilet bowl.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved disposable diaper of the above general description which can be quickly and easily secured to the baby without the use of pins, buttons, metal fasteners or the like, or the necessity of wetting van adhesive surface, and with very little-disturbance tothe child. This is accomplished by constructing the diaper with a crotch portion having upwardly extending front and rear band portions that overlap at the sides of the child, which overlapping portions are provided with cooperating areas of self-sealing adhesive that instantly unite upon being merely pressed together. The areas of self-sealing adhesive are preferably distributed along one or both of the band portions so that adjustment for size and t can be readily accomplished byi merely overlapping greater or lesser portions of the front and rear bands before pressing the cooperating areas of self-sealing adhesive together. As implied by the name self-sealing," the adhesive which I use on my improved diaper is of the type which will not adhere to other surfaces or objects, but will only adhere to that same type of adhesive on another surface brought into contact therewith. This enables the diaper to be packed, shipped and handled without having the adhesive areas becoming stuck toy other surfaces or objects. A

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved multi-ply diaper of the above v'general description characterized by an inner ply of soft non-irritating material, preferably paper or non-woven fabric, for direct contactwith the babys skin, and further characterized by a ply of cellulose wadding or other absorbent paper or cellulose medium having 'high moisture absorbing'characteristics.4 The inside layerof soft nonirritating material and the outer layer of absorbent wadding are secured together Vby certain improved methods of joining the two, as will be later described. In this two-ply embodiment of the invention the inner ply of material functions as the main supporting body of the diaper and must have sufficient strength to hold the vcontents of the diaper. My invention also contemplates a three-ply embodiment in which the layer of cellulose wadding or other absorbent material would be covered by an outside ply of waterproof or water resistant material which would have attachment to the inner ply or to the cellulose wadding or both. This outer ply may be an advantageous addition to the diaper for those mothers who wish to use a garment which will minimize the transmission of moisture to other garments of the baby or to the bedding of the crib, etc.

Another object is to provide a disposable diaper o-f the character described which shall be very inexpensive to manufacture and yet practical and emcient to a high degree in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detail description of two preferred embodiments of the invention. In the accompanying drawing illustrating such embodiments:

Figure l is an elevational View of the outer side of the two-ply embodiment of my improved diaper;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the inner side thereof;

Figure 3 illustrates the folded position which the diaper will assume on the baby;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View through the diaper on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is an elevational View of the threeply embodiment of my improved diaper;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the latter; and

Figures' 7 and 8 are sectional views similar to Figure 6 showing other modified embodiments.

The two-ply embodiment shown in Figures 1-4 comprises an inner ply lllcomposed of soft, non-irritating material, and an outer ply 20 composed of a substantial thickness of absorbent material.v One typical material which I find preferable or desirable for the inner ply IU is known in the trade as iSkin-Tex paper. This is very soft -and non-irritating, even to a babys skin, and still has sufficient strength to constitute the main body of the diaper, hold the contents of the diaper, etc. However, it will be understood that other soft, non-irritating materials might be used,r in the form of non-woven fabrics, matted material or similar paper, etc.

The outer ply 20 of absorbent material is preferably composed of cellulose wadding or other absorbent Ypaper medium, although it might be composed of cotton, if desired. As typical of one embodiment of the invention, the absorbent material 20 may consist of several laminae of wadding secured together and known in the trade as Kimpak (manufactured by Kimberlym Clark Corporation). This outer ply 2U of absorbent material may be secured to the soft inner ply It by spot gluing at spaced spots, or by perimeter gluing around the edge of the outer ply 2B, or by strip gluing or overall gluing, or any other desired manner of attachment between the two plies. Another method is to fold a marginal edge of the inner ply It over the marginal edge of the absorbent ply 20 and adhesively unite the plies and marginal edges, as I shall presently describe.

The inner ply I is cut to form a crotch por-` tion II from which extend two band portions I2 and I2. These band portions Iare preferably identical, so that the diaper is symmetrical with respect to front and back, although the band portions may be made of different proportions or shape intended for front and back application, if desired. n Y

The ply 20 of absorbent material is also cut to form a crotch portion 2I and two band portions 22 and 22. This crotch portion 2I of the absorbent ply is preferably out back to be of narrower dimension than the crotch portion II of the inner ply II), whereby the soft, non-irritating material of the inner ply I will always intervene between the absorbent material 2t and the skin of the baby.

The inner ply I0 also has a greater perimeter dimension around the wing or band portions I2 and I2' than the wing or band portions 22 and 22 of the absorbent material, so as to form marginal strips I4, I and I5, I5 adapted to be folded outwardly over the wing or band portions 22, 22' and secured thereto by a suitable adhesive I6 (indicated diagrammatically in section in Figure 4).

Referring now to the feature of the self-sealing adhesive for securing the diaper in place on the baby, it will be seen that two relatively long strips of self-sealing adhesive II are applied to the outer surface of the marginal strip I5 which laps over the band or Wing portion 22. It will be observed from Figure 3 that when the diaper is on the baby these two long strips of self-sealing adhesive Il are on the outer side of the diaper so that they cannot Contact the babys skin.V The opposite band or wing portion I2', 22 of the diaper is provided with two coacting areas of selfsealing adhesive I8, which are preferably relatively small in size and are located on the inside surface of the inner ply IG substantially at the corners of this opposite band or wing portion I2. This previously described self-sealing adhesive Il, I8 is also known as latex base adhesive.

In applying the diaper, the crotch portion is brought up into position in the crotch of the baby, with the inner ply It placed next to the skin. This disposes one band portion at the front and the other at the back, so that the points where the diaper is to be closed and joined are substantially at the sides of the baby. Some mothers will prefer to have the two long strips of self-sealing adhesive Il on the front side of the baby for front overlap, and some will prefer to have them on the rear side for rear overlap. Assuming, for example, that the diaper has been placed on the baby with the long adhesive strips I'I and band or ring portion 22 disposed to the front, the upper corners of the rear band or wing portion 22 are then drawn forwardly over this front band portion 22 until the desired snugness of lit has been obtained, whereupon the two corner tabs or spots of self-sealing adhesive I8 will be pressed inwardly against the long strips I1 of self-sealing adhesive. Thus, the diaper will be instantly fastened in place with an adjustment or fit which is proportioned to the size of the baby. It will hence be seen that one standard size of diaper can be used on babies of widely different sizes. The diaper is removed by merely pulling it intact outwardly over the legs of the child, or it might be torn at the girth for sidewise removal from the child.

Referring now to the three-ply embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and `6, this embodiment is the same as the two-ply embodiment previously described, except that it also includes an outside sheet or ply 3e which covers the outer surface of the absorbent ply 2i). This outer sheet or ply 3@ is preferably composed of a waterproof or water-resistant material, typically represented by polyethylene, cellophane, glassine paper, wax paper, wet-strength paper, treated cloth or the like. In this embodiment the three plies may be joined together by providing adhesive areas on the outside surface of the inner ply I and on the inside surface of the outer ply 30, and joining these two plies to the intermediate absorbent ply 2li. The same arrangement of adhesive strips Il and adhesive tabs or spots I8 may be employed as previously described, by constructing the outer ply 30 of smaller dimension than the remainder of the diaper, at least near the adhesive areas Il, so that the abovedescribed manner of joining the adhesive areas I'I and I8 can be followed without interference by the outer ply For example, the perimeter of this outer 'ply S may come approximately to or stop short of the inner edge of the turned-over margins Iii, Iii and 5,153', as shown in Figures 5 and 6; or this outer ply 3@ may be confined still more to the crotch area of the diaper.

In Figure 7 I have illustrated another modification in which the outer edge or perimeter of the outer ply 36 is extended up in under the turned-over margins Ill, ifi and I5, I5 of the inner ply it, and is secured thereto by a suitable adhesive It.

In Figure 8 I have illustrated a further modification in which the outer ply 33 laps over the turned-over margins It, Iii and I5, I5', and is secured thereto by the adhesive I5'. In 4this modification, the long strips of self-sealing adhesive IT, I'I may be applied to this outer ply 3Q, at the same locations as above described.

All of the above-described embodiments of my invention are intended to avoid the necessity of the baby wearing rubberized pants or the like, and this is particularly true of the three-ply embodiments because of the waterproof or waterresistant characteristic of the outer ply B.

While I have illustrated and described what I regard to be the preferred embodiments of my invention, nevertheless it will be understood that such are merely exemplary and that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the essence vof the invention.

I claim:

1. In a disposable baby diaper of the class described, the combination of an inner ply of soft texture` paper non-irritating to the skin, a ply of absorbent wadding on the outer surface of said inner ply, said inner ply having marginal strips folded over and adhesively joined to the outer surface of said absorbent Wadding, said inner ply comprising a crotch portion and front and rear band portions extending up from said crotch portion, said front and rear band portions adapted to be lapped one over the other at the side of the baby, relatively long strips of selfsealing adhesive on one of said band portions, and tabs of self-sealing adhesive on the other of said band portions adapted to be pressed into sealing engagement with said long strips of adhesive for holding the diaper in place, said adhesive tabs being adapted to be pressed into contact at different points along the lengths of said adhesive strips to enable the sizeof the diaper to be adjusted to diierent babies.

2. In a disposable baby diaper of the class described, the combination of an inner ply of soft texture material, an intermediate ply of absorbent material, and an outer ply of water resistant material, said diaper comprising a crotch portion and two band portions extending upwardly from said crotch portion, said inner ply comprising marginai portions which are folded outwardly and turned over the edges of said intermediate ply, and areas of self-sealing adhesive on said two band portions adapted to be pressed together.

3. In a disposable baby diaper of the class described, the combination of an inner ply of soft texture material, an intermediate ply of absorbent material, and an outer ply of water resistant material, said diaper comprising a crotch portion and two band portions extending upwardly from said crotch portion, said inner ply comprising marginal portions which are folded outwardly and turned over the edges of said intermediate ply, said outer ply having its margins terminating short of the turned-over edges of said inner ply, and areas of self-sealing adhesive on said two band portions adapted to be pressed together.

4. In a disposable baby diaper of the class described, the combination of an inner ply of soft texture material, an intermediate ply of absorbent material, and an outer ply of water resistant material, said diaper comprising a crotch portion and two band portions extending upwardly from said crotch portion, said inner ply comprising marginal portions which are folded outwardly and turned over the edges of said intermediate ply, said outer ply having margins extending up in under the turned down edges of said inner ply, and areas of self-sealing adhesive on said two band portions adapted to be pressed together.

5. In a disposable baby diaper of the class described, the combination of an inner ply of soit texture material, an intermediate ply of absorbent material, and an outer ply of water resistant material, said diaper comprising a crotch portion and two band portions extending upwardly from said crotch portion, said inner ply comprising marginal portions which are folded outwardly and turned over the edges of said intermediate ply, said outer ply having margins lapping over the turned down edges of said inner ply, and areas of self-sealing adhesive on said two band portions adapted to be pressed together.

J OHN M. LE BOLT.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,994,135 Horowitz Mar. 12, 1935 2,190,378 Hinkamp et al. Feb. 13, 1940 2,476,869 Hughes July 19, 1949 2,627,858 Miller Feb. 10, 1953 

